Toy tank cannon with infra-red capabilities

ABSTRACT

A remote controlled toy vehicle system is provided, which includes: a remote controller adapted to generate a first signal; and at least two remote controlled toy vehicles adapted to control each other via a second signal, and each remote controlled toy vehicle adapted to receive the first signal from the remote controller. Each remote controlled toy vehicle comprises: a vehicle body; at least two conveyers disposed laterally on opposite sides of the vehicle body used for conveying as well as turning the vehicle; a receiver adapted to receive the first signal and the second signal each originated remotely; and a group of electrically actuated actuators (electric motors) that act according to the first signal, having at least two actuators each acting upon the two conveyers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention pertains to the field of toys. More particularly, the invention pertains to a remote control toy tank capable of inter-action with similar toy tanks or the like.

2. Description of Related Art

It is known to produce model vehicles such as cars, tanks, etc. Model vehicles are produced to look virtually the same as the actual vehicles themselves. For example, when a type of car is rolled out of the assembly line, a virtually identical model car to the same type may very well be produced correspondingly to meeting the demands of the collectors.

Remote control toys are known. U.S. Published patent applicant No. 20010045898 discloses a remote control toy for interacting with and responding to its environment. The remote control toy includes at least two wireless transmitters for generating unique control signals, wherein each of the transmitters is positioned in a different room or location in a child's environment. The transmitters each generate a unique infra-red control signal by means of a light-emitting diode. A remote control device in the shape of a doll or other appealing configuration includes a battery-powered photodiode for receiving said control signals. The remote control device identifies the specific wireless transmitter that generated said control signal and generates a message or sound effect in response to the control signal appropriate for the specific location of the transmitter that generated the signal.

Inter-actions among toy vehicles are also known. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 6,672,937 discloses a miniature toy vehicle, preferably of the wireless control self-propelled type equipped to flip or upset another similar toy vehicle or object upon forward impact therewith. The preferred toy vehicle includes a molded toy car body supporting front and rear wheels, steering, a control circuit board, a drive motor and a battery. A front flipping member is supported by the car body having a forwardly distal portion at a height, when the flipping member is armed, for engagement beneath a lower side or end margin of another toy vehicle or an object. The flipping member will upwardly flip or upset the other toy car or object when a trigger member thereof strikes the other toy car or an object.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 6,780,077 discloses a toy vehicle combination that includes a master toy vehicle and a slave toy vehicle. The master toy vehicle includes a transmitter configured to broadcast an IR tracking signal. The slave toy vehicle includes at least first and second directional IR receivers configured to receive the tracking signal from different directions around the slave toy vehicle and is configured to follow or evade the master toy vehicle, which is conventionally remotely controlled.

Toy vehicle having coordinated sound effects is known. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 5,195,920 discloses a self-contained sound effects system for a model radio controlled toy vehicle. The conventional internal control signals of the vehicle are detected by the present invention and are utilized to generate realistic sound effects on board the vehicle. The sound data and programming necessary to coordinate the realistic sound effects with the conventional on-board control signals are entirely contained on the vehicle. A microprocessor is used to provide the coordination of the sound data with the programming and the microprocessor modifies the sound effects with any changes in the on-board control signals by varying the pitch, timbre, amplitude, and the like of the sound effects. A communications port is also provided on the vehicle so that when connected with a remote computer, the sound data and programming can be selectively modified by the operator to add new sound effects or to change current sound effects and operating software.

Users such as collectors of authentic miniature vehicles prefer to have the miniature vehicle to look as much alike as possible to the real sized vehicle. For example, a toy tank would have at least one gun attached like the real sized tank, and the gun to fire somewhat real projectiles. However, there exists a need for interaction among toy vehicles such as mimicking a real battle environment and at the same time be save in that humans or other animals standing by may be hurt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A remote controlled toy vehicle system is provided in which the vehicles can engage each other in a make believe gun fight using wireless signals such as infrared signals as a means of engagement.

A remote controlled toy vehicle is provided. The vehicle comprises: a vehicle body; at least two conveyers disposed laterally on opposite sides of the vehicle body used for conveying as well as turning the vehicle; a receiver adapted to receive a first signal and a second signal each originated remotely; and a group of electrically actuated actuators (electric motors) that act according to the first signal, having at least two actuators each acting upon the two conveyers.

A remote controlled toy vehicle system is provided, which includes: a remote controller adapted to generate a first signal; and at least two remote controlled toy vehicles adapted to control each other via a second signal, and each remote controlled toy vehicle adapted to receive the first signal from the remote controller. Each remote controlled toy vehicle comprises: a vehicle body; at least two conveyers disposed laterally on opposite sides of the vehicle body used for conveying as well as turning the vehicle; a receiver adapted to receive the first signal and the second signal each originated remotely; and a group of electrically actuated actuators (electric motors) that act according to the first signal, having at least two actuators each acting upon the two conveyers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a toy tank using the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows the effect of the tank mimicking the result of having been hit.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of a set of tanks subject to control by at least one user.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of a detailed depiction of the toy tank.

FIG. 6 shows flow chart of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a remote controlled toy vehicle system is provided. A controlling block diagram of a toy vehicle is specifically shown in FIG. 1. An interface board 10 is controlled by micro-controller 12 via a bi-directional link 13. Micro-controller 12 may be remote to interface board 10, and 13 may be a wireless link. A tuner-receiver board 14 feeds high frequency related signals to interface board 10.

Interface board 10 is controllably coupled to an infrared transmitter infrared transmitter 16 for transmitting signals such as infrared signals mimicking the firing of a tank gun. Board 10 further receives received signals from receiver 18 mimicking being hit by another tank gun position on some other toy vehicle. Interface board 10 also is controllably coupled to a speaker 20 and controllably activates the same. Interface board 10 further is controllably coupled to a set of lights 22 a 22 b 22 c 22 d and controllably activates them as well.

A set of electric motors is coupled to interface board 10. The motors include a left motor 24 for controlling the leftward motion of the vehicle; a right motor 26 for controlling the rightward motion of the vehicle; a turret control motor turret control motor 28 for controlling an oscillatory movement of the turret 34; and a gun control motor 30 for controlling an oscillatory movement of the gun 38. A backup motor 32 may also be included for future controlling purposes.

A pair of antennae 42 is positioned on the back portion of the vehicle and extend toward a space above the vehicle. The antenna used by transmitter 16 and receiver 18 may be one of the pair of antennae 42 instead of having a separate physical device as shown. However, to give the transceiving action directional orientation, the positions of transmitter 16 and receiver 18 is preferred. Interface board 10 is adapted to generate or transmit signals for causing the toy tank to shake or move 44 by means of activating the set of motors.

A power source (not shown) preferable portable power source is used for supplying power to the toy vehicle. Some of the functionalities of interface board 10 is performed by interface board 10 alone and some performed in conjunction with micro-controller 12.

The toy vehicle system may include a set of 1/24 scale tanks, with each tank having a controller with antenna (not shown) remote to the each tank. The turret 34 may turn left/right for 330 degrees and the gun 38 can move vertically at an angle. The tank may have 6 channels with 3 forward speeds.

Referring to FIG. 6, a flowchart of the present invention is shown. A set of toy vehicles comprising features described in FIGS. 1-5 is provided. The provided toy vehicles includes vehicle 1 (Step 1) and vehicle 2 (Step 2). A determination (Step 3) is made as to whether one vehicle among the set of vehicles is hit by another in the same set. Specifically, the determination involves whether the first vehicle received a particular signal from the second vehicle with the signal mimicking a hit of vehicle 1 by vehicle 2. The “hit in prior sentences denotes the receiving of a particular signal by one vehicle from another vehicle of the present invention. If the particular signal is not received, no related action is performed (Step 4). However, if the particular signal is received, i.e. vehicle has been hit, related actions are performed. The related actions include: actuating lights such as some or all of the controllable lights 22 a 22 b 22 c 22 d. The actuation may be done selecting some of the controllable lights 22 a 22 b 22 c 22 d to be on or off in a sequence (Step 5). The related actions may further include: actuate some or all of the set of motors for a specific time interval (Step 6). The set of motors include left motor 24, right motor 26, turret control motor 28, gun control motor 30, and backup motor 32. Further, the activation motor or motors may work in conjunction with the controllable lights 22 a 22 b 22 c 22 d therefore rendering a vivid effect of vehicle being hit.

Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention. 

1. A remote controlled toy vehicle comprising: a vehicle body; at least two conveyers disposed laterally on opposite sides of the vehicle body used for conveying as well as turning the vehicle; a receiver adapted to receive a first signal and a second signal each originated remotely; and a group of electrically actuated actuators (electric motors) that act according to the first signal, having at least two actuators each acting upon the two conveyers.
 2. The remote controlled toy vehicle of claim 1 further comprising an upper body portion rotably connected to a top portion of the vehicle body disposed to rotate in relation to the vehicle body.
 3. The remote controlled toy vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a speaker adapted to be controlled by the first signal or the second signal.
 4. The remote controlled toy vehicle of claim 1 further comprising at least one light adapted to be controlled by the first signal or the second signal.
 5. The remote controlled toy vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a transmitter transmitting the second signal.
 6. The remote controlled toy vehicle of claim 15, wherein the receiver is disposed on the upper body portion.
 7. The remote controlled toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first signal or the second signal are each adapted to be transmitted at various frequencies.
 8. The remote controlled toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first signal is originated remotely from a hand-held remote controller.
 9. The remote controlled toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein the second signal is originated remotely from a second remote controlled toy vehicle, which is substantially similar to the remote controlled toy vehicle.
 10. The remote controlled toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein the conveyers are caterpillars.
 11. A remote controlled toy vehicle system comprising: a remote controller adapted to generate a first signal; and at least two remote controlled toy vehicles adapted to control each other via a second signal, and each remote controlled toy vehicle adapted to receive the first signal from the remote controller, each remote controlled toy vehicle comprising: a vehicle body; at least two conveyers disposed laterally on opposite sides of the vehicle body used for conveying as well as turning the vehicle; a receiver adapted to receive the first signal and the second signal each originated remotely; and a group of electrically actuated actuators (electric motors) that act according to the first signal, having at least two actuators each acting upon the two conveyers.
 12. The remote controlled toy vehicle system of claim 11 further comprising an upper body portion rotably connected to a top portion of the vehicle body disposed to rotate in relation to the vehicle body.
 13. The remote controlled toy vehicle system of claim 11 further comprising a speaker adapted to be controlled by the first signal or the second signal.
 14. The remote controlled toy vehicle system of claim 11 further comprising at least one light adapted to be controlled by the first signal or the second signal.
 15. The remote controlled toy vehicle system of claim 11 further comprising a transmitter transmitting the second signal.
 16. The remote controlled toy vehicle system of claim 15, wherein the receiver is disposed on the upper body portion.
 17. The remote controlled toy vehicle system of claim 11, wherein the first signal or the second signal are each adapted to be transmitted at various frequencies.
 18. The remote controlled toy vehicle system of claim 11, wherein the first signal is originated remotely from a hand-held remote controller.
 19. The remote controlled toy vehicle system of claim 11, wherein the second signal is originated remotely from a second remote controlled toy vehicle, which is substantially similar to the remote controlled toy vehicle.
 20. A method for playing with a set of remotely controlled toy vehicles, comprising the steps of: providing a remote controller adapted-to generate a first signal; providing at least two remote controlled toy vehicles adapted to control each other via a second signal, and each remote controlled toy vehicle adapted to receive the first signal from the remote controller, each remote controlled toy vehicle comprising: a vehicle body; at least two conveyers disposed laterally on opposite sides of the vehicle body used for conveying as well as turning the vehicle; a receiver adapted to receive the first signal and the second signal each originated remotely; and a group of electrically actuated actuators (electric motors) that act according to the first signal, having at least two actuators each acting upon the two conveyers; and when a first remote controlled toy vehicle receives the second signal from a second toy vehicle, activating at least one motor for a predetermined time by the first remote controlled toy vehicle. 